Chapter 22 - Dobby the House Elf


Lizzie remembered a nun saying once that if you don't say no, you only have yourself to blame, in a sad excuse for a sexual education lesson. In all of her experiences, no wasn't option though, as if none of them didn't already have the malice to do it in the first place. You could say no if you wanted it to be worse for the pitiful sake of feeling like it wasn't your fault.

Her uncle didn't usually say anything, but this summer was different. He knew she had a boyfriend. She felt his face brush her cheek when he got very close to ear and wrapped an arm around her neck. "It's a sin for you to like this," he hissed. "Whether it's me, or that boyfriend of yours, lust is a sin for women, I'll make sure you never forget that," he added with contempt. Lizzie made an incoherent noise of protest and he hit her across the back of the head.

"Don't deny it," he growled. She felt what she could only describe as fury ignite in her bloodstream.

"Fuck you," she muttered halfway into the pillow and he stopped. He flipped her onto her back and hit hard in the face.

"I think I need you repeat that," he hissed. Lizzie glared at him.

"You didn't ruin me," she groaned quietly. He wiped his face and seemed far too calm for her nerves not to jump.

His eyes were mean and looked almost red. He grabbed her face in firm grip and could see the deadness flood her eyes. He knew she was retreating in her mind by the way her body became limp, and this made him angrier. "Contrition," he said. "Pray."

Lizzie cried, "Please, God, just stop," she said with a shaking breath, and he struck her again.

"Pray," he said again firmly.

"My God... I am sorry for my sins with all my heart..." she breathed. "In choosing to - do - wrong... I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things," she continued trying to stifle a labored breath.

"I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin..." she looked up at crimson red eyes for the quickest of moments. He pressed hard on the side of her face.

She was crying harder when he stopped. "You're never seeing him again; I'll personally make sure of that."

"I don't want to get married," she whispered. He rubbed her face gently and laughed with a smirk.

"Not even to a handsome young man like the one at the station?" He smiled. Lizzie sunk her head and whispered no.

"Why's that?" He asked. She clawed at her arms with her fingernails and didn't say anything.

"Because, no matter what you tell yourself... it's ruined for you," he sneered.


Lizzie woke up in a warm bed and wasn't sure if minutes, hours, or days had passed. The other side of the bed was slept in and unmade. She sat up and inspected herself but many of bruises were fading and she had more feeling in her limbs. Lizzie pulled on fleece pants over her knickers and made her way into the hallway. The wrist locks were still fastened but she had free arm mobility, just no ability to use magic.

Charlie was talking to Ron and Dean in the sitting area, and his attention peaked when he saw her on the stairs.

"You need to rest, I only just got you to fall asleep a couple hours ago," he said a little shortly.

"I'm not a child you need to put down for a nap, I'm fine," Lizzie snapped back but grimaced in pain.

"How's Hermione and Luna?" Lizzie asked, diverting her attention to Ron who had blood shot eyes and a shaky demeanor.

"They're resting. It's going to be awhile before they recover," Fleur interjected. Lizzie nodded and rubbed her face sadly.

"Olivander, Griphook?" Lizzie asked.

"REST-ING," Charlie said assertively, gesturing for her to do the same. Lizzie shot him a look. She was in a lot of pain, but her nerves and anxiety would not allow her to go back to sleep.

"Dean..." Lizzie said. "Holding up?"

He nodded and took a sip of tea. "How did you get caught?" Lizzie asked.

"Countryside, we tried to get some supplies from a town, and with our luck snatchers were patrolling... I was with Dirk Creswell and Ted Tonks... they tried to buy me time, but they beat them both half to death before killing them..." he explained with pain in his face. Lizzie exhaled a shaking breath. Charlie rubbed the back of her neck supportively.

"I want to bury Dobby, where is he?" Lizzie asked after several minutes of silence, wiping stray tears.

"Lizzie, do you want coffee?" Fleur asked suddenly. She nodded, but nobody had answered her question.

"Where is he?" Lizzie asked again.

"You need to rest... he's here, it - it can wait can't it?" Charlie asked apologetically.

Lizzie shook her head and stood up. "No... I want to bury him," she snapped.

"Lizzie..."

"No! Fucking Christ! Stop it, I want to bury him. He saved our lives. I haven't buried any of them! Sirius had no body to bury, neither did Alastor. Claire's I abandoned... I'm going to at least bury that sweet, noble, fucking suicidal elf..." she ranted. It felt like a fresh dagger in her own ribs at the thought.

Charlie nodded and showed her to where Dobby was. She picked a sand plot on a hillside overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful and she could almost hear Dobby sigh with relief. Lizzie needed to be half-carried back to the house after her muscles seized from the digging.

Hermione was up and sitting quietly on the couch in Ron's arms. Lizzie sat across from her and clasped her hands.

"She's not talking," Ron whispered. Lizzie noticed Hermione's eyes were fixed and blank. There was a deadness she recognized, and she looked desperately at Bill and Charlie for help.

"It's the cruciatus," Charlie said. "I - I didn't talk for several days. It damages nerve endings in the brain... I've made something to help that recover quicker, she'll be alright..." he reassured her. Lizzie wanted to break everything within reach but refrained with considerable effort. Her heart broke as Ron stroked Hermione's hair and held her close to his chest.

"Greyback... did..." Lizzie said.

"He didn't bite her. But... her pelvis was broken. She's on the mend, Lizzie, just needs rest. We're safe here under Fidelius. Bill is working on how to remove the cuffs, Dean offered to be a guinea pig..." Charlie explained.

"Luna is still sleeping," Fleur said. Lizzie moved slowly into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee.

"Is she alright?" She asked Fleur, but her eyes welled, and she shook her head. Lizzie knew what that meant, and furious resolve raced through her body.

"Can I talk to Olivander?" Lizzie asked and followed Fleur to the room he was in. She knocked and pushed the door open slowly to see him sitting by the window.

"Oh, Miss Potter," he said and she had his full attention.

"Hi... how are you feeling?" Lizzie asked and handed him a cup of tea.

"Better, thank you..." he said weakly.

"I need to ask you a few things, is that alright?" Lizzie asked carefully. The way he looked at her was telling. Lizzie could read trepidation, wondering how much written about her was true.

"You don't have to be scared of me," she said with a weak smile. "I'm only trying to bring him down and as much of his army with him," she added. He nodded.

"Can you identify these wands we stole?" She asked to lighten the air some. He inspected them and handed her back Draco's.

"Unicorn hair... might suit you better than heartstring, what happened to the phoenix wand?" He asked.

"Broke... rebounded curse. I have the pieces..." she handed him the feeble wand.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, that's not something I can mend," he said sadly. "This other one belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange," he added and handed it over very carefully.

"Um... sir, what do you know about the Deathly Hallows? Particularly the elder wand?" She asked.

He seemed confused and then some dawning washed over him. "It's rumored there are three... and together they'll make the owner master of death. The elder wand has been rumored about for centuries but..."

"You told him about it. You told him about the elder wand when using another's didn't work on me," Lizzie said.

"I did. But only speculation. I don't see how it's possible he found it," Olivander said defensively.

"I think he did, sir. He killed Grindelwald at Nurmanguard. It was won by Dumbledore in their duel and buried with him," Lizzie explained. She'd had a vision on their travels that confirmed as much.

"Then, I owe you an apology Miss Potter," he said sadly. "The war might be over."

Lizzie shook her head. "Call me Lizzie. It's over when I'm dead and I'm not dropping easily."

He stared at her for a long moment and then Lizzie excused herself. She sunk to the floor of the hallway and buried her head in her knees in thought.

They needed to get whichever Horcrux was in the Lestrange vault, more likely the cup than the diadem. She was confident the latter was at Hogwarts. Ron's echo of it being a suicide mission to do either gave her a searing pain in her head. But they had a goblin in their company now, and a dragon tamer. She bargained it was time to share some information with Charlie and pick Griphook's brain to see if their pre-concocted plans were even remotely feasible.


Lizzie crawled into bed with Charlie that night and rested her head on his chest. His presence was a comfort, and she felt an intense urge to be close to him.

"I wish I could just stay like this," she whispered. His hands were gentle and not the least bit forward, but it made her heart rate increase, nonetheless. She felt angry at her body for conforming and succumbing to trauma so quickly and shut her eyes tight with resolve. Lizzie moved her hand under his waistband, and he shifted slightly at the gesture.

"Liz..." he whispered. She got up and knelt next to the bed, pulling him to sit at the edge so she was between his knees. His body relaxed around her mouth. After a couple moments he pulled gently on her hair to get her to look at him.

"What are you doing?" He whispered with an underbelly of concern.

"You don't want this?" She asked, not knowing why this rejection was searing a hole at the pit of stomach and feeling suddenly embarrassed and stupid.

"Lizzie, you're hurt. You've been completely ignoring the fact that you were tortured and..."

"Raped, yeah. So I'm not speechless or in a coma like Hermione and Luna... it was not the first time or the worst time, I'm..."

"Fine? You're not bloody fine," he said incredulously.

"Shut up, Charlie," she whispered. Lizzie moved in an effort to resume but he stopped her and pulled on her arm to get up. Lizzie straddled him assertively and kissed him passionately. She sunk down onto him and did everything she could to hide the discomfort. He pulled on her hips, but she gasped in pain, so he stopped and became extremely worried, but Lizzie shook her head and tried to continue. She desperately wanted to enjoy it even though it was setting her nerves on fire and every muscle started to tremble.

"Lizzie, we need to stop," Charlie said, but she shook her head in wide motions.

"No, Charlie, I want to like this, please don't stop," Lizzie breathed. She felt his muscles tense as he picked her up by the underside of her thighs and set her down on her back. Lizzie pulled him in, and he succumbed much to his own desires for a brief moment but stopped when he noticed her muttering something under her breath.

Prayer of sorts that he couldn't make out. "Hey, hey, hey," he pled, holding her face for her attention. "No, we're not doing this." Lizzie knew he was right, but still felt abashed. He could see the conflict in her eyes.

"You think I'm ruined," she whispered.

"I don't think you're ruined; I've never thought that - I just know you're hurt," he pled, his eyes welling.

"Please..." she mouthed desperately. In her mind the longer she waited, the more stigma she let glue itself to any sort of intimacy, the more she felt damned.

He exhaled and considered her intently. "Do you trust me?" He asked. Lizzie nodded and swallowed hard. "Open your legs," he breathed and could see her chest rise and fall heavily. He sunk down between her knees. Lizzie gasped and impulsively tried to move his head away from her pelvis. Charlie grabbed a wrist in each hand and pinned them to her thighs. She squirmed but he shushed her and kept her body pinned firmly in place until she succumbed to the building ecstasy of it. She felt completely at his mercy in the best way possible. Nobody had ever done this to her. Her mind went numb to any pain and he continued until he finally felt her relax with internal release before he stopped and released her body. Lizzie breathed heavily and watched him stand up. She sunk to her knees in front of him to return the favor, but he stopped her.

"No, just lie down," he said gently. He wrapped her in a tight embrace and kissed her neck from the back while she gripped his arms tight.

"I love you," he whispered and exhaled heavily into the top of her shoulder. She nodded and breathed heavily still, her heart still racing.


One morning later into the following week, Bill knocked on the doors and excitedly announced that he figured out how to confund the wrist cuffs they were all still wearing. "I can get them to log your spells instead of blocking your spells. So, you can use magic, but I think only the Ministry knows how to get these blasted things off. They've been using them on all the convicted muggle borns.

"What's this?" Lizzie asked, lifting a stack of parchment from the table that looked to be a government issued guide of sorts. There was a snake and sword emblem on the cover.

"The Ministry published the laws of the land, essentially," Bill explained. Lizzie sat down and read through them as others sat around to eat.

The New Wizard Order

Magic is Might

The following rules and regulations regarding the Wizard Order and allotted privileges are incorporated and effective immediately, retroactive in application to the year 1980, and subject to further addition as seen fit by High Order and the Dark Lord.

Property

All property previously owned by Wizarding families is now owned by The New Wizard Order and will be distributed accordingly to loyal members of the regime and its citizens on a contingent basis.

Gringotts account vaults are frozen for withdrawal, requiring authorization from the Department of Wizard Order Finances and Family Services.

Class Citizenship

All those dwelling in Great Britian belong to one the following class definitions.

Pureblood

Half Blood

Mud Blood

Squib

Halfbreed

Non-Human

Muggle

Pureblood: All witches and wizards from Wizarding families with exclusive wizard familial relations and ancestry, with no instance of muggle or muggleborn interbreeding, dating back a minimum of three generations.

This classification is subject to first-class citizenship under our laws contingent on loyalty to Wizard Order, the Dark Lord, and strict compliance to the rules listed herewith.

Halfblood: All witches and wizards from Wizarding families tainted to any degree by the marital and interbreeding relations between muggles and wizards or mudbloods and wizards.

This classification is subject to second-class limited citizenship under our laws contingent on loyalty and strict compliance. This classification does not qualify for clemency, pardon, or mercy under the wizard law for indiscretion. This classification does not guarantee rights to property or profession. Upon reaching three generations of all-magical marriage and breeding, the family can petition for pureblood status on a probationary terms and conditions for no less than one generation.

Mud Blood: All self-proclaimed wizards and witches from muggle families with no wizard relation within the preceding generation.

This classification is subject to third class citizenship and not allowed any of the privileges of Wizard Order. All those who fall under this classification are subject to imprisonment of as many years as they weld a wand. They are thus barred from education, all wizard occupations, dwellings, banking, and will submit themselves for sterilization. All crimes committed by this classification, regardless of level of indiscretion, are punishable by death.

Squib: Any children born to a Wizarding family with no or extremely limited magical abilities. This classification is subject to third class citizenship and barred as such as equivalent to mudbloods.

Halfbreed: Werewolves, half-trolls, half-giants, half-goblins, centaurs, and half-vampires are subject to front-line military service or extermination. Failure to report existence of any of the above is subject to execution.

Non-human: Trolls, Giants, Vampires, Goblins, and Elves are restricted to the confines or the prescribed zones or duties. Goblins are only permitted to work in banking institutions. Elves are the property of their Wizarding family until death. Uprisings are punishable by species extermination.

Muggle: Non-magic person. No class status in Wizarding order.

Muggles affiliated with groups or denominations hostile to witchcraft and wizardry are to be exterminated.

Muggles of adult age are to be sterilized. Current children are allowed no more than two children in their lifetime.

Muggles not hostile to the Wizard Order will be subjected to agricultural, textile, and household servitude.

Banking and Property

Property ownership and Gringotts banking is permitted for the male head of house for pureblooded families. Half-blood families are subject to half their fortune under government seizure and contingent banking and property ownership.

Banking is not allowed for any other classifications.

School Attendance

Mandatory for all of-age students for seven years. All exams must be passed with an Acceptable or higher. Subject matter is strictly controlled by the Board of Governors. Hogwarts will be guarded by Dementors and a dozen Wizard Order Compliance Officers stationed to maintain decorum.

Truancy is punishable by parental imprisonment in Azkaban. Corporal punishment of any kind is authorized for any student by permission of the High Order.

Family Structure

Male head of household is a requirement for every Wizarding family. Witches are allowed professions but limited to subordinate positions.

Every pureblooded and halfblooded witch is required to marry a witch or wizard of equal status no later than their 22nd birthday.

Every pureblooded witch is required to bear a minimum of (4) children by a pureblooded husband and (1) male to carry the name. Failure to meet the requirement will result in forfeiture of wand and occupation.

Every halfblooded witch is required to bear a minimum of (2) children by a wizard husband and (1) male. Failure will result in forfeiture of wand and occupation.

Censorship

For the protection of our Order, we have banned the following:

1. Teachings of muggle studies

2. Works of music and literature by mudbloods, halfbreeds, squibs, non-humans, and muggles.

3. Any book or article publication outside the sole High Order Approved Publication provider.

4. Foreign literature of any kind.

Travel

International travel is restricted and barred.

Apparition is permitted within the country's borders.

The Floo network is regulated and requires a floo pass that monitors movement.

Portkeys require special licensure and permit for creation by the travel and transportation office.

Foreign wand permits are not approved.

All bewitched and standard muggle forms of transport are banned.

Curfew is instated at 9:00 PM.

Armed Forces

All graduating male students must serve two years in the High Order Military. Timely acceptance is on priority basis by class status, house preference, marks and recommendations.

Until completion of service, no wizard will be allowed to own property, hold a job, or marry.

Evading duty is punishable by 15 years in Azkaban.

Magical Creature Breeding

Outside of government sponsored and funded programs, the breeding and owning magical creatures is banned and punishable by death.


Lizzie couldn't keep reading. "Straight out of Nazi Germany," she said into the hands ironing feeling back into her face.

"The stakes of loss are high," Bill said. Everyone stared at how obvious the statement was. "I'm just saying," he said as he took a sip of his drink.

Lizzie drummed her fingers on the table anxiously. "We need to talk to you about something." Her eyes shifted between Charlie and Bill. Ron looked uneasy and excused himself to check on Hermione. Lizzie bucked her head outside to meet his brothers by the shore to talk alone.

The waves crashed the shore and Lizzie didn't feel the same draw she had before. She stared intently with resolve.

"We're halfway there," she said cryptically. Charlie frowned and stared at the side of her face. "I know you know we haven't been on the run. I need two things - three things before I can dream of facing him, but one is with him..." she explained.

"What are they?" Bill asked.

"I can't tell you that... right now. We have to destroy these things and we have a way to do that now. We've taken care of three already...halfway there. If he gets to me before the last is gone, then it's over. He won't be mortal, and he'll rule for centuries."

"What is it you need at the moment?" Charlie asked.

"One is at Gringotts. In the Lestrange vault. I need to get in..." she looked at Bill first who stared disbelievingly. Charlie shifted his feet uncomfortably and shook his head.

"Bill, you don't need to go but I need your help. Charlie, there's almost certainly at least one...dragon..." she said. "Will you help me talk to Griphook?" She asked, eyes on Bill.

"This is fucking suicide," Charlie said incredulously. "Their dragons are beaten into viciousness."

"There really isn't a choice..." Lizzie said. "I'm fine waiting until Hermione recovers. But we don't have a ton of time. He's got his hands on something that could kill me this time, I have no protection..."

"And when you face him, you'll be eaten from the inside out," Charlie said bitterly. His eyes somewhere else when she looked at him. "Come on," he said and gestured for her to follow him.

They entered an atrium off the back of the cottage, and it looked like he had set up a sort of lab. Lizzie was confused when she saw the twelve uses of dragon's blood and pages upon pages of notes scratched about blood curses.

"Charlie? What's all of this?" She asked.

"Curing the curse, or trying... to... I think dragons' blood is a key to it, but I haven't been able to travel back to Romania...obviously," he explained.

He leaned against the wooden table and crossed his arms. After staring at his feet as though tasked with memorizing the lines in the leather, he sighed.

"I'm coming with you, to Gringotts. I think it's my only shot at getting blood," he said finally. Bill rubbed the back of his neck and paced.

"You won't get out of there undetected. That's if you even do..." he bit his knuckles. "That vault is extremely high security..."

"Griphook, help me talk to Griphook," Lizzie offered. They paid the Goblin a visit and his black eyes stared into Lizzie's soul as she explained the need to get into the vault.

"There's a sword like the one you have in her vault. Yours is real, that one is fake. If that's what you're after, it no use, there's no point," he explained.

"I'm aware of the one Snape left there. That's not what I'm after. I'm certain what I need is there. I need your help getting in," she said.

"What would you give me in return?" He asked. Bill shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"I have five lifetimes of gold, you know that," she said. He scoffed.

"The Wizard Order seized your assets, you have nothing," he retorted. "I want the sword."

"That's... not possible. We need that specifically to carry out what we need to do," she said.

"Sword or I won't help you," he sneered.

Bill met eyes with Lizzie and raised his eyebrows to say there was no negotiation. Lizzie thought hard for a moment. The only other means of destroying the horcruxes would be basilisk fangs that she knew of. If they survive Gringotts, Hogwarts will have to be the next destination else they would be stuck with a piece of evil and she wasn't sure how quickly that piece would drive her mad.

"Alright, deal," she said, and he nodded at her. As they left, Charlie guided her into their room and shut the door behind him.

"This is suicide," he said. Lizzie nodded.

"We broke into the Ministry and escaped. I went back to Godric's Hollow and narrowly escaped him. We went back to Surrey and escaped. Even the Manor and Bellatrix practically gave away the location when she thought we had already been to her vault... we can't wait too long or they'll move it," Lizzie explained.

He nodded but looked extremely apprehensive. Lizzie pressed herself into his chest and listened to his heart pound until it softened.

"You're going to be able to end this?" He asked quietly.

"I don't know, but I think I have as good a chance as he does," she responded.